S1.E1

What Is Life?

Episode aired Jan 27, 2013
TV-PG
1h 3m

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In this episode Brian Cox visits South East Asia's 'Ring of Fire'. In the world's most volcanic region he explores the thin line that separates the living from the dead and poses that most e... Read allIn this episode Brian Cox visits South East Asia's 'Ring of Fire'. In the world's most volcanic region he explores the thin line that separates the living from the dead and poses that most enduring of questions: what is life? The traditional answer is one that invokes the superna... Read allIn this episode Brian Cox visits South East Asia's 'Ring of Fire'. In the world's most volcanic region he explores the thin line that separates the living from the dead and poses that most enduring of questions: what is life? The traditional answer is one that invokes the supernatural, as seen at the annual Day of the Dead celebrations in the Philippine highlands. Bri... Read all

Director
- Stephen Cooter
Star
- Brian Cox

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- Stephen Cooter
Star
- Brian Cox

See production info at IMDbPro

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Brian Cox

Self - Presenter
(as Professor Brian Cox)

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Featured review

4/10

Pseudo-religious BS - Cox is FAR out of his depth

This show bears the same relationship to the great efforts of David Attenborough (e.g. First Life) as do the vapid "Cosmos" episodes compared to the "Ascent of Man". Sagan was no Bronowski, and Cox is no Attenborough. He's a trivial showman, a 50-year old teenager, irritating, annoying. I wanted to tell him to go do his homework. The man has no gravity. As for subject matter, most of the screen time is about Cox's adventures and his stupid blank, stoned grin. There is nothing of any depth. On a more serious note, his lame attempts to bring in physics are beyond trivial (I'm a physicist, I know). I'd much rather have heard from some real biologists and paleontologists than to listen to his trivial attempts at profundity regarding subjects he obviously has no real grasp of. He knows nothing of any depth, and it is sadly apparent all throughout this stinker series.

It is beautifully filmed. But I swear, I will never spend another minute listening to this irritating, trivial poser.

-drl